Oh maybe some but not enough to matter in my opinion. The 6DE7 is inexpensive, there are many around and it should last a long time anyway. I would have to measure the actual current draw to see what it is operating at but I would go for the higher power. I think the resistor between the pins needs to be of the highest quality.

The tants from Japan are only the 1/2 watt. I would prefer the 2 watt for sound. The 1/2 watt would work but bigger wattage resistors just sound better. Even Audio Note UK will use 2 watt resistors in critical places where even a 1/8 or 1/4 watt would work. I started using large resistors years ago.

Oh maybe some but not enough to matter in my opinion. The 6DE7 is inexpensive, there are many around and it should last a long time anyway. I would have to measure the actual current draw to see what it is operating at but I would go for the higher power. I think the resistor between the pins needs to be of the highest quality.

The tants from Japan are only the 1/2 watt. I would prefer the 2 watt for sound. The 1/2 watt would work but bigger wattage resistors just sound better. Even Audio Note UK will use 2 watt resistors in critical places where even a 1/8 or 1/4 watt would work. I started using large resistors years ago.

There are wire wound resistors that are inductive, which in a power supply isn't a bad thing. There are the Mills that are done in such a way that they cancel and are non-inductive and then there are tants and carbon that are not inductive. Being larger doesn't make them inductive as tants and carbon aren't inductive.

I should add that there is inductance to be found in even the carbon and tants and in the "non" inductive special resistors like the Mills but it is so low that they are considered non inductive for all practical purposes. Inductance resists AC but not pure DC so an inductor resistor in the power supply can do some good in reducing ripple. But they can also add "sound" because they can add a certain overlaying frequency to the DC. This is why the Mills is often used as it does an excellent job of dropping voltage but does little to add anything to the DC.

A question still burning in my mind though, is how the WA2 would compare to the WA6 SE (for headphones use, excluding preamp functionality)?

Based on the toppologies, I would assume the WA2 has more of a warm, smooth, flowing midrange; the WA6 SE having more punch and dynamics. I believe both would handle all cans well - both high and low impedance (in particular after the change to the EZ80 in the WA2).

Has anyone heard these two, either together (e.g., at a meet) or on separate occassions?